Victorian women launch female-only outdoor adventure group

WOMEN are putting on their boots and hitting the bushwalking trails with a new Melbourne outdoor adventure group that’s enticing more ladies into the great outdoors.

WOMEN are putting on their hiking boots and getting into the great outdoors with a new Melbourne adventure group.

Melbourne Girls Outside co-founder Tamara Hutchins, 29, says more women are looking to gain nature skills and hit the trails across Victoria.

Launched in August, the group runs several events a month, with membership already surging past 400.

“Our group formed because we saw a gap in society for girls looking to get experience,” Ms Hutchins said.

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Melbourne Girls Outside is a women's-only outdoor adventure group. Picture: Tony Gough

“If volunteer groups like ours didn’t exist, many (women) may not get outside because they don’t feel comfortable on the track by themselves.”

While the group is primarily about female friendship and exploring nature, leaders also focus on bushcraft, mental wellbeing and fitness.

Ms Hutchins urged women to explore the outdoors, but also called on the state government to protect small volunteer groups in future.

Recent changes to the Australian Adventure Activity Standards raised concerns that volunteer groups could face red tape in the future.

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The changes, which include competency assessments and training, are designed for commercial operators and are voluntary for not-for-profit groups.

But Ms Hutchins warned any future changes should not affect small groups.

“Currently, we are able to exist because we don’t charge our members fees for things like public liability,” she said. The standards should not include volunteer groups.”

Minister for Sport John Eren said: “We want to see more Victorians enjoying the great outdoors and doing so safely.

“That’s what these voluntary guidelines are all about — making sure people are prepared and have the right safeguards in place to enjoy themselves.”

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